The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-25

was compelled to open his safe again. As
he turned the combination the tramp
| watched him closely, and then arose TO
| leave Before going however, he turned to
the gentleman again saying:
And you don't want the polisht
No, not unless it can be used 20 brighten
| up the conscience of come people about
here" responded Mr.. Robson.
The tramp passed out the door, and in n
few seconds, had passed out of Mr. Robson
mind. Maybe he would never have been
thought of again by the Tax collector but
for what eusued On Feb. ~ MIR Robson
had something less than $1,000 in his safe,
and that night locked the place of deposit as
usual During the night he slept As quietly
as usual, little thinking that he was being
ruined while he was asleep. On the morn
ing of Feb 20 ne arose. and, as usual break
tasted and went to his Office. He unlocked
the door and went in, and as he entered his
eyes fell upon an open window Fully sat
istied that he had
CLOSED AND FASTENED THE WINDOW
the previous night, for he was always ex-
tremely careful, Mr. Robson walked to it
and at a glance discovered that it had been
broken open. Instantly the tramp with the
stove polish sprang into his mind and then
as rapidly as he could move he went to the
safe. The door was standing wide open and
scattered about the floor and every indica-
ton of robbery was apparently without in
vestigating
The blow was a severe one TO the gentle
man, because he saw ruin staring him in the
face, but bending upon one knee he went
through the drawers until he found that
they were empty Mr. Robson knew that
he had lost between $500 and $1,000, but
just how much he could not recolect. 1t
was too early in the morning for callers,
and the gentleman sat down and began
studying. The loss was heavy one, and in
the solitude he wondered how il would end
He considered what course he should pursue
and without the advice of friends made up
his mind
And right there he made his mistake.
In his dilemma Mr. Robson saw but one
way of escape, and that was to keep the rob
berry secret and try to make the deficiency
caused by the robbery good. All day long
he
SAID NOTHING ABOUT HIS HEAVY LOSS,
but it so preyed upon his mind that late in
the evening he called upon his most intimate
friend and TO him conided ALL having first
extracted a promise of secrecy.
Then things moved along as usual with
the gentleman until the time came for him
to make his returns to the Comptroller
General In the meantime, however he
had made several attempts to secure the
amount of money necessary but without
success. On May II last the Comptroller
issued an execution ana sent it to Washing
ton county. This called for quick action on
Mr.. Robson's part if he wanted to retain
the secret of the robbery He secured from
his bondsinen a note large enough to cover
the loss, giving them as security a mortgage
on ZOO acres of land in Washington county
With the note he came to Atlanta and tried
TO raise the money, but failed Some weeks
later the shortage and stories of the robbery
leaked out, and then Nj. Robsons
BoNDsMEN BECAME UNEASY
and had the bond cancelled OF course this
caused him to vacate the Office, so successor
went in. As Mr.. Robson went out he decided
to his bondsmel 1000 acres of land, and
gave up horse and buggy and $500 in
notes. This was done to cover any loss they
might sustain, and Mr.. Robson thought the
matter settled.
The grand jury for Washington county
met last week and found a true bill against
Mr.. Robson, charging him with embezzle-
ment. He was arrested and gave bond in
the sum of 81 100, and at once engaged
Judge Twiggs to manage the defense. The
Superior Court was in session, and the trial
was set down for Friday. Mr.. Robson was
not ready for trial, because his attorney
could not be present, and wanted contin
uance, which was denied him. He then
made up his mind to keep out of the way of
the court and on Wednesday was in the
act of going to his brothers. who lives in
the country, where he intended to remain
until court was over, when the
MOST PECULIAR FEATURE OF THE CASE
presented itself. On that afternoon he was
notified that there was package in the ex-
press Office for him, and that it contained
500. He was not expecting any, money
| and took the package ont. Two hundsed
dollars in money and q letter rolled out
The money was good and the letter was in
teresting. 1t read:
Mr.. J. b. Robertson, Tar Collector, Sanders
ulle, Ca.
| DEAR SIR-By express of S25;5 | got from
| your safe on the night Feb 10Th instant MY
| pal didn't tell ME and never knew till since
| ] lifted you that you We're an empty legged old
| Confed. | aul flushed now and see You have
| lost your office. therefore the remittance
| Moral: Be careful in the future how you turn
! the knob of your combination when vender of
| stove polish is sitting close by.
WILLIE CoRNEAr.
Witness: J. f. PEACOCK.
! The letter appeared to be from one of the
/ parties wno had robbed his safe and be-
| lieving that good detective could follow
the clew thus given to a successful conclu-
Sion be decided to come to Atlanta, and not
| TO go to his brothers home. He acted at
once, and reached the city last night, but
before he arrived telegram was received
at police headquarters
ASKING FOR HIS ARREST,
and officers were looking for him. From
the Union depot Mr. Robson went to the
Kimball. He secured room, and after a
| shave and bath went to supper. After sup
per he walked out upon the street and began
asking for a policeman Captain Couch
came by and Mr. Robson halted him, say
ing:
| "Do you know where can find Ed Muir
ply, the detectiveH'
| mo, do not, answered the Captain.
Then after cycling the gentleman and de-
tecting the one leg, the Captain said:
This is Mr. Robson, isn't itr'
| YES was the answer
eve have a telegram at police headquar-
ters for you"
"For meF asked the gentleman.
Yes, for you"
| The gentleman then accompanied the Cap
tain TO police headquarters, where he was
informed that he was under arrest. Mr.
Robson was
BOTH SURPRISED AND INDIGNANT
when info med that his sheriff had described
| him as an embezzier Be at once told his
story clearly and quickly. kilograms were
sent to SandersvilIe notifying the officers of
| the gentlemans arrest, and the prisoner was
given the liberty of the prison.
Mr.. Robson is nearly 6 feet tall. and is a
| fine Looking man He has coal black hair.